Commission increases members

By Andrew Schlesser

The DeKalb Liquor Commission voted to increase the number of members on the liquor commission from five to seven at the request of the Liquor Commissioner Mayor Frank Van Buer at Tuesday night’s meeting.

“Mayor Van Buer would like to see more representation from the community on the liquor commission,” said DeKalb City Attorney Norma Guess. “The mayor would also like to see a woman on the commission.”

The commission also voted to approve of the concept of appointing a deputy liquor commissioner, but the vote was not unanimous.

Michael Embrey, commission member, said he would not support the idea of appointing a deputy liquor commissioner until a well-defined job description is proposed to vote on.

Guess said she would meet with the mayor to discuss in detail the job description of the position at the end of this week or early next week.

The liquor commission also voted to propose a city ordinance banning the purchasing, ownership and usage of the Alcohol Without Liquid device in DeKalb.

The commission voted to amend current ordinances that restrict alcohol consumption to liquid form and to include alcohol in any form other than liquid.

Other discussion centered around the growing economy and what can be done about the limited number of Class A liquor licenses.

“We need to open things up for licensee’s and be more flexible with them,” said George Shur, commission member.